Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love

Friday, November 23, 2007

On her debut for indie upstart Big Machine, Trisha Yearwood digs into a comfortable sweet spot midway between slick Nashville bang and rugged roots-music twang. With its rich combination of polish and pain, that's precisely where her voice belongs. The pro-penned material is strong throughout, but highlights include "Nothin' 'Bout Memphis," rich with horns; "The Dreaming Fields," a pretty piano ballad wistful enough for a Disney-princess flick; and "Let the Wind Chase You," a hushed plea for peace with handsome harmony vocals by Keith Urban and a dreamy string arrangement by Beck's dad, David Campbell. "Cowboys Are My Weakness" could be a response to George Strait's recent "How 'Bout Them Cowgirls." Turns out Mrs. Garth Brooks is on the prowl for a guy with "a little bit of outlaw, a little bit of Jesus".

Labels: album reviews, country

Like You'll Never See Me Again

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Alicia Keys' early body of work sometimes had a tendency to paint her as precious chanteuse, sounding self-consciously "important" and measured. With "No One," the opening bid from fourth album "As I Am," out Nov. 13, the 27-year-old began to act her age, loosening up and delivering a youthful hit drenched with soul-soaked effervescence and a cool beat as appealing to the kids as the Sunday champagne-brunch crowd.[...more]Alicia Keys' early body of work sometimes had a tendency to paint her as precious chanteuse, sounding self-consciously "important" and measured. With "No One," the opening bid from fourth album "As I Am," out Nov. 13, the 27-year-old began to act her age, loosening up and delivering a youthful hit drenched with soul-soaked effervescence and a cool beat as appealing to the kids as the Sunday champagne-brunch crowd. Sure enough, it topped the R&B/hip-hop singles chart and reached the top five at top 40. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" is also appreciably less polished, with a series of riffs packed with such genuine emotion, you can visualize Keys waving her arm to the heavens in the studio. Production with Kerry Brothers, who accompanies the majority of tracks on the new disc, adds playful bells that sound like raindrops, finger snaps—and enough creamy harmonies to remind that Keys, no matter how loose, is the premier R&B female talent of our time. A year from now, the singles will still be popping from this project.

Labels: Alicia Keys, rnb, single reviews

Jordin Sparks

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

With an all-star team of writer/ producers (Stargate, the Underdogs), 17-year-old "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks gets a first effort that's all over the map—and works. The best news about "Jordin Sparks" is that nobody's trying to mold her into a fly ho or a torchy diva; these 13 songs sound like exactly what she should be singing at this age and juncture in her career. The overall effect is sophisticated teen pop marked by innocent good cheer and harmony-laden vocal arrangements, although the synthesizer and drum machine-dominated tracks work better in some cases ("Tattoo," "One Step at a Time," "Now You Tell Me") than in others ("Shy Boy," "Young and in Love"). "No Air," Sparks' duet with Chris Brown, has plenty of hit potential, while "Now You Tell Me," with its swelling arrangement and muscular chorus, is the album's gem.

Labels: album reviews, Jordin Sparks

Nowhere to Now Here

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

We're not surprised that music from the Kin's new album "Rise and Fall" was placed in episodes of Lifetime series "Army Wives." Song pluggers should heed the Aussie duo, for the pair's endearing romanticism would make good backdrops to tales on the small and big screen alike.[...more]
We're not surprised that music from the Kin's new album "Rise and Fall" was placed in episodes of Lifetime series "Army Wives." Song pluggers should heed the Aussie duo, for the pair's endearing romanticism would make good backdrops to tales on the small and big screen alike. "Nowhere to Now Here" leads off "Rise and Fall" with deep, canyon-like rumbles, then swoops in on an orchestral wave as wide as its cinematic scope. Strings drive the song urgently enough that you can see the hero of a grand adventure—something in the vein of Robin Hood—charging onward, intent on rescue. It's one of the more inspiring songs on "Rise and Fall," and it launches the soulful album on an exhilarating note.

Labels: rock, single reviews

Saving My Face

Monday, November 19, 2007

"Hold On," the first single from KT Tunstall's second album "Drastic Fantastic," was enthusiastically received by triple A radio, topping airplay charts for 10 weeks, making Tunstall one of only two female solo artists to secure the No. 1 spot for as long a time[...more]
"Hold On," the first single from KT Tunstall's second album "Drastic Fantastic," was enthusiastically received by triple A radio, topping airplay charts for 10 weeks, making Tunstall one of only two female solo artists to secure the No. 1 spot for as long a time (Sarah McLachlan first set the record in 1997 with "Building a Mystery"). The 32-year-old singer/songwriter from St. Andrews, Scotland, delivers another polished pop gem with follow-up "Saving My Face." A refreshingly forthright lyricist, Tunstall takes aim at plastic surgery and 50-year-old women who try to look like teenagers in this arena-friendly anthem. The song, which builds to an emotional crescendo punctuated by "whoa, oohs" and "oh, yeahs," showcases Tunstall's growing sophistication as both writer and vocalist. Although unapologetically embracing a pop sensibility with "Saving My Face," she successfully combines accessibility with a nuanced and heartfelt message.

Labels: single reviews

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